Battling: Charity campaigner David Goulding.
When David Golding lines up for the Great North Run he will be carrying out the best wishes of the President of Liberia, the former President of Tanzania and the deputy Prime Minister
The only person not convinced he should be pulling on his spikes is his wife, Veronica.
Dad-of-two David, of Brierdene Crescent, Whitley Bay, has decided to mark his 70th birthday by tackling the half-marathon for the first time. The energetic international campaigner will be raising funds for the Jubilee Debt Campaign and HIV/AIDS - causes dear to his heart.
David, who was awarded a CBE for his work in alleviating world poverty, has only ever organised other runners to take on the half-marathon, but decided he had better step up to the mark this time.
Both the former President of Tanzania and the current President of Liberia have formally thanked the Jubilee Debt Campaign, of which David is a founder member, for their remarkable effort in helping to alleviate poverty and improve education and health in their countries.
And on Wednesday he met with deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to discuss Third World development.
David is running the 13.1 miles despite three major setbacks to his training.
He said: “While I will not be breaking any records on Sunday, I am both excited and apprehensive. It was clear after the first week of training that I would not be able to run continually but optimism is my middle name - I do not give up very easily.”
He got a serious chest infection only weeks into his training and struggled to walk. In July he contracted plantar fasciitis in his left foot, causing inflammation and debilitating pain.
He then damaged a tendon in his right foot, temporarily halting his training.
He has since battled to build up the strength he will need for today, though he will not be able to run the whole course as he had originally hoped.
David said: “Small bursts of jogging and the rest of the time walking is the summit of my ambition.”
The £2,500 he will be raising shows the overwhelming support from his friends and family.
Each year since 2003, David has organised up to 60 people to take part in the Great North Run. Between them they have raised £90,000 towards HIV/AIDS relief and the Jubilee Debt Campaign, which fights to cancel Third World Debts.
(This story was first published in the print edition of the Newcastle based Sunday Sun, on 19 September 2010.)